Under the Angel‘s Wings

Childhood Cancer Fund Rugutė invites parents who lost their child to participate in regular meetings of the self-relief group, in which parents share their feelings, sufferings, and together try to find ways how to relieve the pain of their loss.

Island of Children

Captains say Thank You upon their return from Majorca

Five children who had been touched by an oncological illness and their families vacationed in a warm Island in the Mediterranean Sea- Majorca during April 18-24. Jurga and Frederik’s (owners of the Villa Can Fanals in Majorca) kindness made children’s dreams come true.

The trip to Majorca was the first vacation abroad for Domantas, Justina, Ditas, Alan and Agne so their experiences were unique.

Children visited impressive Palma Aquarium, Campanet Caves where for the first time they saw stalactites and stalagmites. Traveling on windy mountain roads they reached Torrent de Pareis, the dried out riverbed, admired the old towns of Palma and Alcudia, enjoyed warm water in the pool and the sea. Children and their families lived in an amazing Villa Can Fanals and were surrounded with the constant care of the villa owners.

We asked the Captains to share their impressions of the trip—who else if not the children can express the joy they felt the best:

Juste:

I always dreamed about going somewhere abroad for vacation. I could only quietly dream about spending a week in Majorca. When my mom told me we would be going to Majorca I even began to cry from joy. I was counting days till we fly. On April 18 I was urging my mom to hurry so we would not miss the flight and that’s why we were the first ones to arrive at the airport.

I was very happy when I met the two other girls going on this trip. We quickly introduced ourselves and got along very well. Jurga met us at the airport holding a small Lithuanian flag (as if we wouldn’t have recognized her if she hadn’t). She made an impression of a very kind and happy person. It took about an hour to travel in a van across the island to the villa. Jurga she told us many interesting stories about Majorca during our drive. Frederik, the caring owner of the villa, met us in the yard. He greeted everyone in Lithuanian and invited everyone to get settled and come for dinner during which we could visit and learn more about one another.

I was enjoying myself even despite the fever and a toothache a few days later. I swam in the pool, went to the huge Palma Aquarium where it felt like I was underwater myself. I got to feed koi that were eagerly anticipating for me to put food in their mouths. I waded in the sea many times since I could not go swimming because of my fever.

I was very impressed by the mountains. When we drove on winding mountain roads I could see the most amazing views-like from the postcards.

I am very happy I could see real stalactites and stalagmites. Even if we weren’t allowed to take pictures of them I won’t forget the amazing views I saw for a long time. The week in Majorca went by like a few days. There was not a day when I did not smile. A Great Thank You to everyone for my unreal week!

Alanas:

I was a little nervous when I got to the airport but I still wanted to go on the trip very much. Jurga (the owner of the villa) met as at the airport holding the Lithuanian flag. The trip to the caves, aquarium, mountains and walks in the evening were the most memorable moments of this trip. I also enjoyed jumping from a cliff into the sea and swimming into a cave. I also liked Edita’s Birthday celebration. When we came to Palma we saw an impressively large cruise ship. We also had a short visit to the magnificent Palma Cathedral. I was very impressed by the beautiful nature of Majorca.

I enjoyed swimming in the swimming pool at the villa. I was always swimming there whenever I had a chance. Edita even nicknamed me Seal. I did not want to leave this beautiful villa when it was time to leave on Saturday. Thanks to Jurga and Frederik for inviting me in this trip and for a beautiful vacation. Warm hugs!

Domantas:

I learned about this trip from my mother. At first I thought she was joking. And to tell the truth, I could not believe it for a long time. Just as we were going to Kaunas airport I realized that I would fly for sure. It was my first flight and I was a bit scared and had cramps in my stomach. But the worry was not necessary: the flight was unreal. I watched everything from my window: how the plane lifted from the ground, the snowcapped mountain tops from the gaps in the clouds, other planes going by, how the shape of the island became more clear as we landed. As we were getting off the plane the flight attendant made us laugh by suggesting I jump on his back and we both went to see what happened to my wheels (wheelchair).

Then we met Jurga and traveled to the other side of the island to the villa. Jurga showed us the twin mountains and told stories about different plants that we could see (the most memorable were mimosas in yellow blossoms and orange trees), told us about the caves we would see and many other things on the way. The road going to the villa Can Fanals was narrow with stonewalls on both sides. Every time we went on it I was wondering how the cars didn’t collide on turns. At the villa I enjoyed the swimming pool where I swam few times, hammock and the patio from which I could see the mountains the best. There I met Frederik and enjoyed visiting with him. Frederik and Alan taught me a few Spanish words every time we travelled in the van. I remember them all. I also started calling all cyclists “mosquitoes” like Frederik when I returned home.

Our first outing was to the aquarium. There I saw Japanese colorful fish I could feed, sea horses, creatures with whiskers and pinchers, an octopus sitting on a tree stump, huge aquarium with pillows beside it where you could sit and watch fish while listening to music. I really enjoyed it.

And then we saw the caves. They were beautiful and the most importantly everything was created by nature during millions of years. Now I know a lot about stalactites and stalagmites and can distinguish between them and know what is called spaghetti. I even saw a Santa Clause made from stalagmites and a clowns nose.

Another trip was visit to the mountains on windy mountain roads-serpentines. The views were Impressive. Everyone in the vas was looking around and I could often hear “how beautiful.” I liked the beaches too, especially the small one because I found many creatures there. On the last day I lacked the courage to go snorkeling with Frederik to watch the small fish. I truly enjoyed the trip. It is difficult to describe in words. How much. I once told myself that I would travel around the world one day and my dream is coming true a little-I visited Majorca!

Ditas and his mom Deime:

The week went by like a good dream. We came back with memories, beautiful views in pictures, great feelings we keep reliving when telling stories about the trip. Thanks to the kind people we will remember this week for the rest of our lives. Thanks to hosts Jurga and Frederik and to Edita and Dainoras for the opportunity to see and experience everything. Thanks to fellow travelers for great mood and company. Ditas was saying that even tough he would not be able to come back in the near future he would fly there again when he grew up and earned lots of money.

What does Ditas remember and still lives on? Everything! When I asked what he liked the most about his trip he said everything. For me the three most impressive moments where: the realization of a what great present fate and good people were giving us (when Edita called); Ditas’ tears in the plane when leaving because he was very sad to leave Majorca, him waving at the window and saying “Adios”; and Ditas’ words when he saw the Kaunas lights at night from the sky “I love Lithuania very much.”

Ditas was looking forward to this trip and counted days from the moment he found out we were going to Majorca. He was telling an old lady he met at a bus stop on his way from practice that he had already been on a ship, train, bus and even taxi and now he would fly to Majorca by plane (he hadn’t been on a plane before) the very first day when he found out about the trip. He made sure he had lollypops to make flying easier on ears, because kids in kindergarten had told him that one needed to eat lots of candy when flying. He was impatiently looking forward to the trip. At the airport Ditas got very anxious about making the metal detectors beep as he went through them. But we went through without any beeps. The second time he wasn’t afraid and was even looking forward to when he would need to go through. He was concerned for us to get into the right plane. I have to admit that I was looking at all screws and bolts to make sure all were in place when climbing into the plane.

Warm and beautiful weather met us when we landed. It was a bit windy but sunny and joyful. Jurga met us with a Lithuanian flag. We crossed Majorca on the way to the villa and saw many beautiful sights. Frederik and his cat Bingo met us at our temporary home. We were overwhelmed seeing the beauty of the yard and the house. “We will live here? Wow!” such was Ditas reaction. For a few minutes we walked around stunned not knowing how to enjoy and admire it all. Ditas was the first one to go into the swimming pool. I followed him perhaps to cool off the excitement and emotions from experiencing such beautiful sights. We had baked potatoes with cheese and garlic for dinner. It was so tasty that I think all of the women who traveled with us would try to recreate that dish at home to remind us Majorca (we would call it Majorcan potatoes or potatoes according Can Fanals).

Fieldtrips, excursions: why did I plan and study the public transportations system of Majorca? We were taken everywhere by two vans and joyful drivers who were the hosts and Dainoras. A special thanks goes to Dianoras for patiently catering to our whims when we could not decide which beach we wanted to go to.

Palma Aquarium. Ditas remembers koi that we could feed and which we Japanese (because they reminded us of the ones which swim in Japanese garden ponds) the best. He also remembers the octopus, sea horses, coral, jellyfish, plankton (like in SpongeBob square pants movie) that we observed over a magnifying glass and tuna. Ditas even took a leaflet about protecting the red tuna fish to his kindergarten. We were impressed by the jungle waterfall and the hallway where the fish swam above our heads.

Campanet Caves. We liked them more than Ditas. He liked them too but his joy was more directed to the toy we got him: a dragon egg (which is already hatching). There were plenty of emotions and I think that once the impressions settle Ditas will be happy that he saw the caves and was able to tell kids in kindergarten stories about them. Ditas remembers fragrant orange trees and and feels sorry I did not allowed him to pick the oranges. I was also impressed by these orange trees as they blossom and ripen fruit at the same time. Our apple trees do not do that.

Mountain road toward Port de Sa Calobre was a piece of heaven. Ditas was not allowing anyone to talk to him as we went on narrow and windy mountain labyrinths. He was watching and thinking. (When he says that he is thinking no one is allowed to touch him-that means he is really into something). A fall he had after getting out of the car, scraped elbow and side still remind him of that feeling he had when he saw high cliffs and mountain tops as he watched them through binoculars. One has to experience it as stories and pictures do not do the justice. One can’t compare what we experienced with any other feeling one experiences in daily life. Maybe with standing on skyscrapers roof’s edge, only the views of at the mountains are more beautiful and there is no fear. Ditas enjoyed walking down the lit hallways toward the riverbed (Torrent de Pereis).

Beaches. One of them (Badia d’Alcudia bay) was cozy with straw sun umbrellas and the other (Near Punta de Manresa cape)-was small and cozy with caves, water creatures, and flowers (Ditas picked a collection of them). In the small beach we could take a small path to the cliffs and walk down the cape and see the sea from the top. It was an intoxicating feeling to see the incredible green and blue water clear as in a stream. The little traveler enjoyed playing in sand and swimming in the sea or in the pool the most. He must have been sad to leave his friends and swimming because he started crying once we got into the plane. I promised to take him to the Baltic sea-it is also a sea but not so intoxicating, but it is ours, and friends he will meet at the Friends Island perhaps even Frederik and Jurga.

Majorcan sweets. There was limitless ice cream in the fridge that had the tendency to appear mysteriously. Oranges, tangerines, strawberries, evening pizza, and beet soup would appear from somewhere. There were also Edita’s birthday cakes at home and in the coffee shop (including the celebratory candles in the coffee shop during a rehearsal when Edita disappeared and during a real celebration when she came back) and coke which I allowed him to drink and potatoes chips that I only buy for him occasionally.

We did not miss TV at all!

Ditas was happy with his new friends and remembers them often. Greetings to them!

As the little Captain nicknamed Storm (with his friend) by Edita for his tireless running about said “I liked everything” and one of moms said, “I did not like that the day was too short.”

Thank you very much! Tack sa Mycket! Muchas Gracias!

Agnė ir Viktorija:

That special day when Edita invited us to go to Majorca was one of the happiest days-our dream to see the Mediterranean sea has come true. When we flew it was fun to see how we rise from the ground. The view from the window was unbelievable. It was fun to watch the mountaintops, which looked like they had white hats on. We traveled a lot on our trip. We saw Palma Aquarium. The see horses, big sharks, fish of impressive shapes and colors were the most memorable. It was surprising and magical like in caves where we saw stalactites and stalagmites. Everything looked so magical, unique and very fragile: it takes about 100 years for one centimeter of the icicle to form. When we went to see mountains we admired their impressive size and the beautiful views we could see from them. It was fun to swim on the beach, collect shells, and observe the see creatures. This trip was amazing. Our sincere thanks go to to Frederik and Jurga, Edita, Dainoras for kindness and care.

Dear Jurga and Frederik, we feel exclusive gratitude to you for the most amazing vacation you gave to the Fund Rugute children.

We lack words to tell you how we value this new friendship and how our hearts rejoice are when we see happy children.

On behalf of Domantas, Justina, Ditas, Alan, Agne and their families we say a big Thank Your from our hearts!

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